Occupant propelled amusement device



June 23, 1953 c, c. BECKETT 2,643,122

OCCUPANT PROPELLED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l q INVENTQR Clay C.Beckefilt.

BY away/4W ATTORNEY Jun 3, 1953 c. c. BECKETT 2,643,122

OCCUPANT PROPELLED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed NOV. 1. 1949 S e a) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Clay a eckeu.

ATTORNEY patentecl June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OCCUPANT 'PROPELLED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Clay 0. Beckett, Washington,.D. Application November 1, 1949, Serial-No. 124,745

3 Claims. (01. 272-33) This invention relates to amusement devices and is more particularly concerned with devices useful as acrobatic apparatus.

It is one object of this invention to provide a device which can be used to perform daring acrobatic acts for exhibition to amuse an audience, such asatacarnival, fair, circus, theater or other public place.

As an acrobatic apparatus, the device of this invention is adapted to be used by one or more human acrobats or by trained dogs, monkeys, seals and other animals.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment useful for acrobatic purposes as it appears in one of the many ways in which it may be used.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a pair of spaced vertical columns ll and [2, the lower ends of which are adapted to be anchored to the ground or to a platform or other base member. Suitable bracing members, such as the rods l3 and M, for the columns are also provided to hold them rigidly in place. Struts [5 and 16 to cross brace the rods l3 and [4 to the columns may also be included. It is to be understood, however, that the brace arrangement for the columns as illustrated, is merely suggestive of one of the many bracing means that may be employed, the particular means to be used in any specific case depending on the location of the device and the facilities available for erecting it.

At the top of the columns H and I2, there is removably secured a horizontal cross-shaft I! and a sleeve or hollow cylinder 18 is rotatably mounted on said shaft.

A beam or swing structure consisting principally of two half-sections A and B is rigidly secured to the cylinder l8 so as to rotate therewith. Each section A and B comprises a cylindrical member or circular band I9 formed of two laterally spaced rings 20 and 2| connected together by cross-struts 22 welded or otherwise secured at intervals along the circumference thereof. The periphery of each band l9 carries a strip of material 23 which is supported by said struts 22. The strip 23 may be solid, but is preferably foraminous, such as heavy Wire screen, and is also preferably disposed in place by weaving it in and out of the struts, substantially as shown. The strips are rigidly secured to the struts, such as by welding-orother suitable means. In this manner, the :bands 1.9 are made 'sufficiently strong to support heavy weights, such as :one or more acrobats, including any equipment they may wish to use in their performances, such :as a bicycle.

.Each band 19 is supported in a vertical :position with its axis parallel to the shaft 11 at the outer end of its corresponding section A and B, respectively. The inner ends of the sections A and B carry mating plates 24 and 25, the centers 26 and 21 of which are bent outwardly in the form of semi-circles to snugly receive and fit around the sleeve H3. The plates of one section, say plates 25, are welded to the sleeve [8 so as to be integral with it. The plates Of the other section are removably secured to the welded plates 25 by means of bolts 28.

The portion of the sections A and B between the inner plates 24 and 25 and the bands I!) may be of any sturdy construction, either solid or open. An open construction is preferred, however, to provide better views for the audience and less weight in handling, such as where the apparatus is to be demounted and transported for erection to a new site. One such open construction is illustrated in the drawing and comprises four parallel arms 29, 30, 3| and 32 for each section connecting the rings with the inner plates. These arms are braced to each other by lateral struts 33 and cross struts 34. It is important, however, that the cross struts 34 extend toward the bands I9 no farther than a point sufliciently removed from the bands to permit clearance of a person Walking in an upright position or riding a bicycle on the outside of the bands.

The apparatus may be used in a number of different ways for exhibition purposes. For example, two acrobats may each mount the inside of one of the bands l9 and walk in opposite directions, with one lagging behind the other to establish a resultant moment suflicient to cause the beam to rotate about the shaft ll.

Alternatively, the acrobats may mount the outside of the bands or one may mount the inside and one the outside. Also four acrobats may be used, one on the inside of each band and one on the outside of each band. Also, a dead weight, such as a heavy piece of iron, sandbags, etc., may be substituted for one of the acrobats, thereby permitting an exhibition by one acrobat alone or by an odd number of acrobats.

Instead of human acrobats, certain animals, such as dogs, may also be trained to perfOrm on the apparatus.

A further variation for daredevil stunts com- 3 prises the riding of bicycles or other mechanical vehicles in or on the bands.

Having thus described this invention, I claim:

1. An acrobatic device comprising a beam pivotally mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about a transverse axis thereof, a pair of spaced parallel rings secured to each end of the beam, said rings being disposed in vertical planes parallel to the plane of rotation of the beam and being fixed against movement relative to the beam, horizontal cross struts between each pair of rings and rigidly connecting said rings together, said struts being disposed at spaced intervals about the rings, a circular band disposed between the rings of each pair, said band being interwoven with said struts to serve as a continuous walkway for an acrobat on both the exterior and interior of the rings.

2. An acrobatic device as defined by claim 1 in which the walkway strip is foraminous.

3. An acrobatic device comprising a beam pivotally mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about a transverse axis thereof, a pair of spaced parallel rings secured to one end of the beam, said rings being disposed in vertical planes parallel to the plane of rotation of the beam and being fixed against movement relative to the beam, horizontal cross struts between said rings rigidly connecting said rings together, said struts being disposed at spaced intervals about the rings, a circular band disposed between said rings, said band being interwoven with said struts whereby the exterior surface of the band serves as a continuous walkway for an acrobat on the outside of the rings and the interior surface as a continuous walkway for an acrobat on the inside of the rings and counterbalancing means on the other end of the beam.

CLAY C. BECKE'I'I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 899,286 Biavati Sept. 22, 1908 1,450,634 Hunter Apr. 3, 1923 1,557,942 Matthews Oct. 20, 1925 2,437,000 McBride Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,465 Italy July 13, 1935 660,311 Germany May 21, 1938 

